Message From The Director

Why should we bury our dead? Why choose a Catholic Cemetery? Are Catholic cemeteries really necessary? Why do we visit the cemetery they’re not really there? When we are faced with the
death of someone we love so many things seem to happen all at once and so many decisions need to be made. We look to the very foundation of our faith.

Many families with loved ones interred in a CCA cemetery may not realize that their Catholic cemeteries stand
on their own, they are self-sustaining. While the Diocese of Cleveland recognizes the needs of our Catholic cemeteries and
oversees our fiscal viability, it does not absolve us from being responsible for our own financial obligations.

About Andrej Lah

Andrej is a 1986 graduate of John Carroll University and 1989 graduate of the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. From 1989 to 1991 Andrej served as staff attorney to the Honorable Joseph F. McManamon and the Honorable Lillian J. Green and in December of 1991 he became of member of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland’s legal staff. Andrej transferred to the Finance Office in 1993 to manage all real estate matters for the Catholic Diocese. In 2000 he was asked to take over as Chief Operations Officer for the Catholic Cemeteries Association and on January of 2001 he was appointed to that position. Bishop Lennon appointed Andrej to the position of Director of Cemeteries in November of 2009 and he is the first lay person to serve as Director of Cemeteries since its incorporation in 1893.